BUGS FOUND IN BATHROOMS: SILVERFISH
What are silverfish? They are a type of wingless insect that invades many homes. Specifically, silverfish in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and the Eastern Shore of Maryland are very common. While not dangerous to humans, they can cause damage to your belongings.
How to Recognize Silverfish
Here’s what a silverfish looks like:
- No wings
- Silver-grey in color
- Moves with a wiggling motion like a fish
- Back of the body tapers to a point
- 1/2 to 1 inch in length
- Long antennae
- Rear bristles
Silverfish are most active when the sun goes down. You might only notice them when you flip on the bathroom light in the middle of the night, or when they move near heat sources in the evening.
Where Do Silverfish Live?
In the wild, silverfish live in warm, damp places. That’s why in our homes, silverfish find similar breeding grounds, staying in or near:
- Attics
- Restrooms
- Porch lights
- Laundry rooms
- Furnace rooms
- Hot water pipes
- Warm window sills
- Kitchens near the oven
- Other sources of heat and moisture
What Problems Do Silverfish Cause?
Silverfish eat materials that have starches or glues in them. This includes:
- Silk
- Dust
- Paste
- Paper
- Cotton
- Carpet
- Leather
- Pictures
- Clothing
- Wallpaper
- Synthetic fiber
- Many other household materials
They can eat your books, pictures, tapestries, clothing, and much more. They’re a special problem if they get into a storage area. They show up a lot in new buildings, which have a lot of fresh glue and new lumber (which brings extra humidity).
How to Eliminate Silverfish
You can start to control silverfish by implementing some simple home proofing. Try these tactics:
- Dust every surface.
- Keep everything as dry as you can.
- Clean out storage areas, including closets and cabinets.
- Check magazines and pictures occasionally and move them around.
- Patch any unnecessary holes.
- Repair drips and leaks.
What are silverfish? An insect that Viking Pest Control can completely eliminate for your home! If you want to get rid of silverfish quickly, contact Viking Pest Control.
Call Viking at 800-618-2847 to learn more about silverfish pest control and extermination services, or get a fast, free quote online today!
